Posts Tagged ‘marketing’

June has several cake awareness days that will make for some delicious marketing promotions. June 1st is National Hazelnut Cake Day, June 6th is National Applesauce Cake Day, June 11th is National German Chocolate Cake Day and June 14th is National Strawberry ShortCAKE Day.

I’m thinking wineries could also use National Cheese Day on June 4th to encourage wine tasters to visit. And stores selling kitchen items can have a special promotion for people who feel less skilled in the kitchen with National Kitchen Klutzes of America on June 13th.

If you want a family orientated theme how about International Picnic Day on June 18th. Or there is June 17th National Eat Your Veggies Day to encourage families to eat healthy.

What can you come up with for your June Marketing promotions?

First Week:

June 1: National Hazelnut Cake Day

June 2: National Rocky Road Day

June 3: National Chocolate Macaroon Day

June 4: National Cheese Day

June 4: National Cognac Day

June 5: National Gingerbread Day

Second Week:

June 6: National Applesauce Cake Day

June 6: National Frozen Yogurt Day

June 7: National Chocolate Ice Cream Day

June 8: National Jelly-filled Doughnut Day

June 9: National Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie Day

June 10: National Herbs & Spices Day

June 10: National Black Cow Day

June 11: National German Chocolate Cake Day

June 12: Peanut Butter Cookie Day

Third Week:

June 13: National Kitchen Klutzes of America Day

June 14: National Strawberry Shortcake Day

June 15: National Lobster Day – Seafood restaurants do something fun!

June 16: National Fudge Day

June 17: National Apple Strudel Day

June 17: National Eat All Your Veggies Day – Nutritionists, chefs, restaurants!

June 18: National Cherry Tart Day

June 18: International Picnic Day

June 19: National Dry Martini Day – Have a 007 contest!

Fourth Week:

June 20: National Vanilla Milkshake Day – Have a retro 50’s theme sale!

June 21: National Peaches & Cream Day

June 22: National Chocolate Eclair Day – Delicious!

June 22: National Onion Rings Day

June 23: National Pecan Sandies Day

June 24: National Pralines Day

June 25: National Strawberry Parfait Day

June 25: National Catfish Day

June 26: National Chocolate Pudding Day

Fifth Week:

June 27: National Orange Blossom Day

June 28: National Tapioca Day

June 29: National Almond Buttercrunch Day

June 30: National Ice Cream Soda Day – Lots of fun for summer time!

Let me know if you use June 25th National Catfish Day in a Marketing promotion. I think it could work for the right business.

Still wondering why you should bother having a Business Page on Facebook? Consider this 1 out of every 13 people in the world are on Facebook. Out of people in the U.S. connected to the internet, 72% have a profile on Facebook.

Think of how many people you could educate about your business. And the people who find you on Facebook will share your Page with others if they find it interesting. Word of mouth marketing done online because you made the time to interact with your customers on Facebook.

Check out this short video by Alex Trimpe to get more information on the power of Facebook in people’s lives and think about why you aren’t marketing your business on Facebook yet:

It’s amazing, how in a few short years Facebook has grown and is a part of daily life for millions of people. People communicate with family and friends, search for information, places to go, companies to do business with all inside Facebook.

Direct Marketing Rx can help you get started. Contact us today and start reaching out to the half a billion people on Facebook. Don’t just think local, think global for your business.

Have you made your business irrelevant online? Astonishingly enough I still hear on a daily basis, at least one business person say they are not interested in Facebook or other social media to promote their business online. Apparently those business people want to stay invisible and irrelevant on a media platform that can brand their business on a global scale.

An associate mentioned to me that some people currently view social media for marketing and advertising like people back in the 1950’s viewed radio some new fad that wasn’t worth their making room in for in their marketing budget. Savvy business people who saw the value of radio back in the 1950’s used it too make their businesses more successful. Today savvy business people can use social media, especially Facebook to enhance awareness about their business to their target market on a huge scale for much less money than a radio ad in today’s media. Social media is the present and the future.

Social media in unexplored territory for many and businesses need to know how to use social networking to promote their business. Social media allows you to expand your online presence, build a social media fan base, interact with your customers and increase sales with social networks like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube and Blogs.

You can use it to tell your customers about your business, future products and services, promotional events, special sales and educational seminars. You can also build your business reputation as a leader in your field by sharing your expertise which helps to create loyal customers who turn into fans and tell their friends about your business.

Don’t just fantasize about being relevant get your social media marketing started today. Direct Marketing Rx is a social media management firm dedicated to marketing your business through social networks. If you need help we are here to meet your social media marketing needs. To keep in touch with customers and build brand awareness you need to get involved in social media. Contact us today we can help you.

People are blooming with the urge to shop when the sun comes out and flowers start growing. Lure them into you business with special offers using fun and outrageous themes.

Get people interacting with you on your Facebook page and Twitter. Have recipe contests. Send out mailers with recipe cards attached and have customers post photos of their version of your recipe on your Facebook Wall.

Have a taste off at your business and have some local celebrities’ judge which of your customers had the best recipe. Take their photo with the winning dish and give them a gift certificate for your products or services.

If you run a restaurant and say a special day below that incorporates one of your dishes or desserts have a special discount on that specific day. Advertise it on you social media profile, your print, TV and radio ads. Get people excited to come in and taste that special dish. National White Chocolate Cheesecake days sounds like a yummy way to get customers dining at your restaurant. Or Lobster Newburg Day or Baked Scallops Day or even National Oatmeal Nut Waffles Day.

There are plenty of ideas for non-food service businesses too. Have a National Cheese Doodle Day promotion where you hand out snack sized bags to customers who come in to your business on March 5th.

Week 1 –

March 1 – National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day

March 1 – National Fruit Compote Day

March 2 – National Banana Cream Pie Day

March 3 – National Cold Cuts Day – Have cold cuts in a deli tray available for customers to enjoy while the shop your sale.

March 3 – National Mulled Wine Day

March 4 – National Poundcake Day

March 5 – National Cheese Doodle Day

March 6 – National White Chocolate Cheesecake Day

Week 2 –

March 7 – National Crown Roast of Pork Day

March 7 – National Cereal Day

March 8 – National Peanut Cluster Day

March 9 – National Crabmeat Day

March 10 – National Blueberry Popover Day

March 11 – National Oatmeal Nut Waffles Day – Invite your top clients over for a breakfast at your favorite restaurant

March 12 – National Baked Scallops Day – Great promotion idea for seafood restaurants.

March 13 – National Coconut Torte Day

Week 3 –

March 14 – National Potato Chip Day

March 15 – National Peanut Lovers Day

March 15 – National Pears Helene Day

March 16 – National Artichoke Heart Day

March 17 – National Corned Beef and Cabbage Day

March 18 – National Oatmeal Cookie Day – Bakery marketing idea.

March 19 – National Poultry Day

March 19 – National Chocolate Caramel Day

March 20 – National Ravioli Day – Italian restaurants can have a special offer.

Week 4 –

March 21 – National French Bread Day – I love fresh baked French Bread.

March 21 – National California Strawberry Day – The Santa Maria Strawberry Festival is April 29th – May 1st.

Check out the infographic of the world map of social networking changes from June 2009 to December 2010. Facebook use is spreading throughout the world.

Facebook and Twitter are the top two social networking sites. Are you promoting your business on Facebook and Twitter? If your answer is no then what’s holding you back?

If social media has the power to move people to change history think about what it can do for your business. We live in a global economy. It’s time to get the word out about your business on a global scale with a Facebook Fan Page and a Twitter account.

Do you have your social media contact info on your business cards? I have them on mine. Give your customers more than one way to connect with you beyond traditional phone number, address, email and website. I have my twitter and Facebook Profile links listed on my business card. You really need to incorporate you business cards into your social media.

I was reading a blog post by Mike Capuzzi of Copy Doodles about “How to Get More Out of Your Business Card Layouts.” He mentions 7 secrets to get more use out of your business cards to market your business. I use secret #3 Double the Power of my card by making them double sided. Check mine out below:

I like to use full color and extra thick card stock although Mike Capuzzi’s post encourages using non-traditional materials.

Need a marketing promotion idea for February? Check out the national days, week long awareness days and national month topics. There are endless ideas for outrageous marketing during February. Tie your marketing altogether using direct mail, social media and print, radio and TV advertising. Get your customers salivating over your great February deals.

February is:

• Chocolate Month

• Great American Pies Month

• National Cherry Month

• National Fiber Focus month

• National Grapefruit Month

• National Heart Healthy Month

• National Hot Breakfast Month

• National Snack Food Month

• National Sweet Potato Month

Week long holidays for February are:

• First week of February is Shape up with Pickles Time

• Second week of February is the Great American Pizza Bake Celebration!

• Third week is Kraut and Frankfurter week

• Fourth week is National Pancake Week.

Week 1 –

February 1 – National Baked Alaska Day

February 2 – National Heavenly Hash Day

February 3 – National Carrot Cake Day

February 4 – National Homemade Soup Day – Great marketing idea for personal chefs!

February 4 – National Stuffed Mushroom Day

February 5 – National Chocolate Fondue Day

February 6 – National Nutella Day

Week 2 –

February 7 – National Fettuccine Alfredo Day

February 8 – National Molasses Bar Day

February 9 – National Bagels and Lox Day

February 10 – National Cream Cheese Brownie Day

February 11 – National Peppermint Patty Day

February 11 – National Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day

February 12 – National Plum Pudding Day

February 13 – National Tortellini Day

Week 3 –

February 14 – National Cream – Filled Chocolates Day

February 15 – National Gumdrop Day

February 16 – National Almond Day

February 17 – National Indian Pudding Day

February 18 – National Crab Stuffed Flounder Day

February 19 – National Chocolate Mint Day – Do a bulky mailer with candy!

February 20 – National Cherry Pie Day – Makes me think of the 80’s song! 😀

Week 4 –

February 21 – National Sticky Bun Day

February 22 – National Sweet Potato Day

February 22 – National Margarita Day – Nightclubs and restaurants can offer specials!

February 23 -National Banana Bread Day – Bake up some great deals!

February 24 – National Tortilla Chip Day

February 25 – National Chocolate Covered Peanuts Day

February 25 – National Clam Chowder Day – Seafood restaurants use this idea!

February 26 – National Pistachio Day – Have a nutty marketing promo!

February 27 – National Chocolate Cake Day

February 27 – National Strawberry Day – Sweet, healthy promo idea!

February 28 – National Chocolate Soufflé Day

Let me know what outrageous advertising you come up with and I’ll feature it in a future blog post.

I’m digging National Guacamole Day on September 16th. Have a customer appreciation fiesta. Bring out the tortilla chips.

I’m curious about National Blueberry Popsicle Day on September 2nd. I’ve never tried a blueberry popsicle. Sounds yummy, but who makes them?

What marketing ideas can you come up with all the fun themes below? I’m thinking National Potato Month has endless marketing potential. Mail out potato chips to your customers and have a special potato themed sale in your business. Maybe even have someone dressed up in a potato costume!

Week 1

September 1 National Cherry Popover Day
September 2 National Blueberry Popsicle Day – I’ve never had one! You?
September 3 Celebrate National Potato Month
September 4 National Macadamia Nut Day
September 5 National Cheese Pizza Day

Week 2

September 6 Celebrate National Rice Month
September 7 National Acorn Squash Day
September 8 National Date Nut Bread Day
September 9 National Weiner Schnitzel Day
September 10 National TV Dinner Day
September 11 National Hot Cross Bun Day
September 12 National Chocolate Milkshake Day

Week 3

September 13 National Peanut Day
September 14 National Cream Filled Donut Day – Yummy!
September 16 National Guacamole Day – Add tortilla chips and you’ve got a party!
September 17 National Apple Dumpling Day
September 18 National Cheeseburger Day
September 19 National Butterscotch Pudding Day

Week 4

September 20 Celebrate National Biscuit Month
September 21 National Pecan Cookie Day
September 22 National Ice Cream Cone Day
September 23 National White Chocolate Day
September 24 National Cherries Jubilee Day
September 25 National Crabmeat Newburg Day
September 26 National Pancake Day – Bring on the Maple Syrup!

Week 5

September 27 National Chocolate Milk Day
September 28 National Strawberry Cream Pie Day
September 29 National Linguini Day
September 30 Celebrate National Chicken Month

If you’re serious about attracting clients consistently, I believe you should use every single piece of marketing “real estate” you can. Whether you’ve been in business for one year or 22 years, when you’re marketing your business, you want to have systems in place that PULL in clients without you having to do much to make it happen.

It can even be as “little” as using your outgoing voice mail as a Client Attraction tool. One of the key things you can do to PULL people in that most people in business do not do, especially when they’re working from home, is have an outgoing message on your voice mail or answering machine that describes exactly what you do, for whom, and what results they can expect.

The idea here is to have your voice explain what you do and how to give you referrals . So, instead of saying, “Hello, it’s Mary, leave a message,” you can say, “Hello, it’s Mary of so-and-so business, helping (insert target audience) who struggle with (insert common problem) achieve more (desired outcome).”

Once they know exactly what you do and for whom, don’t forget to list the best ways to reach you (other than phone) : your e-mail, your website, and your tag line. Oh, and don’t forget to include a call to action, like inviting them to visit your website and signing up for something. There are lots of different ways you can use your voice mail outgoing message as a way to get new clients. Remember to keep it pretty short or people will not want to call back.

You’d be surprised how many people over the years became my client, when all they had originally was my phone number. As a result of the voicemail, they all told me they went onto the website, signed up for the ezine, attended teleclasses, and after a while, wrote in to say they were ready to work with me. Not bad for a simple voicemail message!

My motto around marketing real estate? “If you’ve got it anyway, use it to attract clients!”

Your Client Attraction Assignment:

Create an outgoing message that can also act as a marketing tool, if it is brief. Include your tagline and e-mail address if it is easy to remember, direct callers to your website, and make sure to tell them about your newsletter or list any upcoming workshops you are promoting. You’ll not only impress callers, you might just get a few new clients out of it.

Fabienne Fredrickson, The Client Attraction Mentor, is founder of the Client Attraction System , the proven step-by-step program that shows you exactly how to attract more clients, in record time…guaranteed. To get your F.R.E.E. Audio CD by mail and receive her weekly marketing & success mindset articles on attracting more high-paying clients and dramatically increasing your income, visit www.ClientAttraction.com .

Beware of using too much industry jargon in your copy if your customers are not familiar with it. They may end up interpreting it like the gal in the Dilbert comic above.

The problem with that is you won’t make the sale because the prospect won’t have a clue what they should buy. Keep the content clear and easy to understand.

Even when targeting a specific market familiar with industry lingo be careful with using too many acronyms. It will make the copy difficult to read and make the reader eager to move on from your marketing messages.

You don’t want the customer so busy trying to sort it all out in his mental dictionary and missing the benefits of your goods or services in the process.

Keep your marketing messages from getting stuck in a Dilbertesque zone of lost sales.

If you need help with your website content consider having Direct Marketing Rx do content audit of your site to uncover its strengths and weaknesses.

You’ll get an extensive report showing the results of a 31 point checklist on the health of your website. You’ll find out if you’re using the 5 components of web content that works. And if your website is easy to navigate and user friendly.

Contact Us and get your prescription for a website content that sells today!